Meet Alec Puro | Founder / Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alec Puro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alec, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My first company Gramoscope Music actually started out of pure necessity. Early in my career, there could be significant downtime between scoring a film or scripted show, and I never knew how long that downtime would last. In some cases, it lasted long enough that I wouldn’t be able to pay my rent! That financial uncertainty was really stressful and unsustainable.

But beyond just survival, I realized that starting Gramoscope Music would give me creative freedom to explore various film and television projects I might not have been able to do without the support of the company and my team. It became this safety net that allowed me to take creative risks and build something sustainable while pursuing my passion for composing.

Viralnoise which I started in 2025 came from a completely different place, it was really driven by years of requests from creators. Through Gramoscope Music, we’d been creating this incredible catalog of music for major TV shows like “The Real Housewives” franchise, “Wicked Tuna,” the “NBA 2K” video game series, and countless other productions. But creators kept asking how they could access this same level of professional music for their content.

The thought process was: we’ve spent over a decade building this top-tier premium music library that’s been battle-tested in Hollywood productions, but it’s only accessible to big-budget projects. Meanwhile, there’s this huge community of talented digital creators, YouTubers, TikTok influencers, podcasters, indie filmmakers – who needed better tools but were stuck with the same old canned stock music everyone else was using.

So we finally built a platform that makes this Hollywood-grade audio accessible to all creators at every level. It’s really about democratizing access to the same quality audio that powers major entertainment. The business model had to be completely different. Instead of traditional licensing deals with networks and studios, we’re serving creators directly through affordable subscriptions.

At its core, both businesses came from identifying real problems and building solutions that not only served a need but also allowed me to continue creating and pushing boundaries musically.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What Sets Me Apart:
I think what really distinguishes my work is this obsession with serving the story above all else. Whether I’m scoring a zombie thriller like “Black Summer,” a family drama like “The Fosters,” or an animated series like “The Mighty Ones,” my goal is always to find the musical DNA that makes each project unique. I’m not trying to impose my sound on everything, I’m trying to discover what each story needs musically.

My approach is also deeply rooted in organic instrumentation. Even when I’m creating the most electronic, atmospheric soundscapes for a project like “Black Summer,” I’m running sounds through vintage guitar pedals and analog gear to give everything a human feel. I always try to use real musicians whenever possible because there’s something irreplaceable about that human touch that can’t be replicated with samples.

What I’m Most Proud Of:
My greatest success is that I get to make music every day and consistently work in this incredibly competitive industry. I know firsthand how brutal it can be, so the fact that I’ve been able to sustain a career for over twenty years feels like a miracle.

The Journey – Definitely Not Easy:
The path has been anything but smooth. Early on, there could be months between scoring gigs, and I never knew how long the downtime would last. Some stretches lasted long enough that I literally couldn’t pay rent.

That’s actually what drove me to start Gramoscope Music, pure survival instinct. I needed to create multiple revenue streams so I wouldn’t be at the mercy of when the next film or scripted series came along. I had to juggle many things at the same time in order to build a business while trying to establish myself as a composer, but it ended up being the smartest thing I ever did.

The transition from being in Deadsy to becoming a full-time composer was also challenging. In a band, you have creative freedom but limited commercial structure. In film and TV, you’re working within very specific creative guidelines and tight deadlines. Learning to serve someone else’s vision while still bringing something unique to the table – that’s a skill that took years to develop.

Lessons That Changed Everything:
The biggest lesson came from my drumming background: less is more. When you’re starting out, you want to show off everything you can do, which usually means overplaying. But the most effective groove is often the simplest one. That philosophy completely transformed how I approach composition. It’s not about showing how clever I am, it’s about finding the perfect musical moment that serves the story.

Work begets work has been my mantra since day one. I learned early that you never know which relationship or small project might lead to something life-changing. I always put as much out there as possible and stay open to unexpected opportunities.

What I Want the World to Know:
At its core, everything I do is about storytelling through music. Whether it’s a Netflix series, an indie film, or providing music for a TikTok creator’s video, I’m always asking the same question: What does this story need musically to connect with people emotionally?

With Viralnoise, we’re not just selling music, we’re democratizing creativity. We’re saying that a creator’s vision shouldn’t be limited by their budget or access to expensive licensing deals. The same music that’s been powering Hollywood for decades should be available to anyone with a story to tell.

I also want people to know that this industry thrives on community and generosity. Every breakthrough I’ve had came from someone believing in me and opening a door. Whether it was my best friend Jake Paltrow trusting me to score his film “The Good Night” or James Newton Howard and Mike Post still making themselves available for advice after all these years – that spirit of mentorship is what keeps creativity alive.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have so many people support and guide me throughout this journey,

Jackson Browne has to be at the top of my list. When I first started writing and recording my own songs, I had this crappy old guitar I’d borrowed from a friend. I shared a couple of those completed songs with Jackson to get feedback. At that time I was giving his nephew drum lessons and Jackson was always so gracious and thoughtful. When he saw how into the songwriting process I was, he gave me a brand-new Telecaster and Vox AC10 amp on the spot, completely out of nowhere. That gesture wasn’t just about the gear, it was about believing in me and investing in my future. It really taught me the value of mentorship and community in music, and how powerful it can be when someone established takes the time to encourage younger musicians finding their way.

Robby Krieger from The Doors also played a huge role in my early development, both as a touring musician and mentor. Getting to play drums in Robby’s band and jam and record with so many legendary artists in my early twenties like Dickie Betts and Cher taught me so much about musicianship and professionalism.

I also have to shout out John Tinker the producer of Chicago Hope. John literally changed the trajectory of my entire career by suggesting I write songs to pitch for TV licensing when I was in my late teens. Without that conversation, I might never have discovered my passion for composing music to picture.

As I got deeper into composing, I was fortunate enough to connect with James Newton Howard and Mike Post – absolute titans in the film and TV scoring world. What blew me away wasn’t just their incredible body of work, but how generous they were with their time early in my career. To this day, they’ve made themselves available whenever I have a question about something or just need some simple advice.

I learned early on that this industry is really about relationships and community. The generosity these people showed me is something I try to pay forward with younger composers and musicians I work with today.

Website: https://www.viralnoise.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viralnoisemusic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viralnoise

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viralnoiseofficial

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@viralnoisemusic

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@viralnoise